Dr Sally Cockburn

Distinguished Alumni Service Award 2010

Throughout her three decades since graduating as a medical practitioner, she has continued to be engaged with the Monash University community as a volunteer, teacher, and board member.

Dr Cockburn was a member of the Monash University Medical Foundation Board of Management for seven years.

She is also chair of the Monash Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences alumni sub-committee and the Eric Glasgow Memorial Fund, and has held previous roles with the faculty’s community relations subcommittee.

She regularly chairs meetings and organises events such as faculty reunions. She is a popular speaker and moderator at Monash alumni events including annual alumni and friend debates. She has played a key role in the Distinguished Alumni Awards in previous years.

She also speaks at many Monash medical events, and was an integral part of the organising team and MC for the gala dinner held for the 40th anniversary of the opening of the University’s medical school.

Sally is ranked in the top 10 corporate speakers in Australia.

In addition to her commitments as a doctor, Dr Cockburn has held a position as senior lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine where she was part of the team who re-wrote the communications curriculum for the MBBS course.

More recently she devised and taught health journalism to Monash medicine students, and has lectured in postgraduate psychiatry.

Dr Cockburn is a valued speaker at the Monash University Medical Undergraduates' Society (MUMUS) orientation week program for first-year Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery students.

She has served on charity and state government boards including the Metropolitan Ambulance Service Committee of Management, the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women’s Health, the Sexual Health Task force, and the Mental Health Reform Council.

She is currently chair of Family Planning Victoria and on the board of VicHealth where she is co-chair of the advisory committee on the prevention of violence against women. Sally also sits on the board of Victoria Walks and the scientific advisory committee to Zoos Victoria.

Sally is a nationally-recognised media personality with more than 20 years as a radio and TV presenter and has been regular columnist in national magazines.

She has a past recipient of the Radio Industry award for Best Documentary and the MBF award for Excellence in Health Journalism.

As “Dr Feelgood” she hosted her own nationally-syndicated sex and relationships radio program ‘Pillowtalk’ and now hosts ‘Talking Health’ on 3AW.

She has also hosted her own national TV show and is still a regular on TV including ‘The Morning Show’ on Channel 7.

In 2010 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, which recognises women who play a leadership role in the community.

Dr Cockburn was nominated by distinguished alumna Beth Wilson (BA 1975, LLB 1977) who said: “Sally is a worthy recipient [of the services award] for her years of work in public health and in promoting Monash University, to which ... she is highly committed.

“The stand out features of Dr Cockburn’s personality are her excellent communication skills, her terrific sense of humour, her commitment to the community and the individuals within it, the pride she takes in her work, and her attachment to Monash University; she has been an inspiration to many students and colleagues,” Ms Wilson said.